
Practical information
(Arcadia)
Standard outline of the week
Arrival
Participants are expected to check in from 18:00 on the first day. All participants will be notified in due time, regarding the procedure for making use of our special shuttle bus from the Tripoli bus station to the Periplus Workshops location (approx 60 minutes). Please make sure to join on time!
Once you arrive in Periplus Workshops location, you’ll enjoy a warm Greek welcome and shown your room to settle. There will be a festive reception dinner at 20:00. Afterwards you’ll be treated to an introductory experience, especially connected to the place and the weekly program’s philosophy. The first evening offers an ideal opportunity to make initial contacts with the other participants and our team.
Workshop
The carefully built holistic approach of the workshop’s long experience starts on the next day morning. Daily schedule will be defined by the team, along with the introduction to hows and whys of the workshop theme. In the first days, after getting accustomed with the workshop area and the materials and tools provided, various trying and learning, mainly technique focused, studios, are taking place. They intend to sharpen your skills but mainly challenge preconceptions and unlock new competences by introducing you to totally fresh hands-on mentalities and procedures. All following days will be production days intensively dedicated to the workshop's core theme. On the ninth’s day late afternoon, the workshop’s outcome will be openly presented in an exhibition staged by the participants in the Dimitsana Cultural Center and for all sides of local stakeholders to attend.
Prior joining the workshop, all participants will receive historical and popular culture information about the people and the area in order to prepare any draft thoughts and ideas. Also, a full day tour will take place, to selected places in the wider area of Arcadia, such as the Popular Culture and the The Open-Air Water Power museums, a local craftsmanship traditional workshop etc. Along with a walking visit to the local Historical Library and Museum of Dimitsana.
Working sessions are taking place in a variety of motivating places, in and out of the Periplus Workshops base. Some are done individually while others are collaborative. The whole program despite being continuous and intensive, is oriented on giving totally new meaning to the concept of creativity fun. The creative hands-on activities of experimentation alternate with a continuously changing variety of daily experiences such as recreational wandering, mind-body awareness activities, relaxation sessions, alternative observation such as narrative stargazing to help your imagination flow and productive grasps of natural stimuli for the projects, such as group sound making.
As we are located next to the central area of the local village, freely meddling with locals of all sides and activities will provide a generous opportunity of talking first hand about the topics that are important for their community.
Departure
The worshop ends on tenth day's midday. Our special shuttle bus leaves Periplus Workshops location
for the Tripoli bus station at 12:00.
Your Stay
Accommodation
Participants are accommodated in shared spacious dormitories, in the hospitable Dimitsana Cultural Center, which lies hanging at the side of the historical village. It’s breathtaking view towards the Lousios river valley and traditional/modern character, deeply influenced by the stony village architectural style and it’s natural environment, makes it a truly unique experience. All bathrooms are WC/shower.
Plenty of surrounding recreational and mind relaxing spots.
Food & more
The Periplus Workshops delicious culinary experience is carefully planned to be an important part of your holistic, creative week. Not only bringing you nutrition and pleasure, but food and its culture is approached as one more full experience to further stimulate your mind. Traditional Arcadian food has always been based on local ingredients, and every small village is blessed by having its own culinary customs and recipes deeply rooted to long traditions and what the nearby environment had to offer. You will therefore only enjoy the best that local small scale producers have to offer, and the family type cooking which made the area gastronomically famous. The common meals are also seen as an important occasion for further team binding communication.
The workshop days begin at 08:00 with a rich breakfast, including fresh juices, coffee and tea. Lunch is at 1pm and dinner at 8pm. Fresh juices as well as fresh herbal tea, coffee and a variety of energy healthy bites, are constantly at participants’ disposal during working sessions. Also a special occasion to savour is the festive dinner at a famous traditional taverna in the village. All meals are taking place at the upper level with the great view big terrace.
If you have specific diet requirements or food allergies, please notify us in advance and we will take note.
Necessary things to bring along
You will need summer working clothes, definitely a pair of sturdy closed shoes for the frequently rough mediterranean terrain, flip flops, a light pullover and raincoat in case of a sudden summer rain. The climate in Periplus Workshops Arcadia area is mildly mediterranean and it’s more possible to feel the summer heat than cold. There may be though, a significant difference between the hot day period and the cooler night. In any case hat and lots of sunscreen are necessary. Mosquito repellant, flashlight, an excursion lightweight backpack, a european plug adapter and international converter kit for rechargeable items or extra batteries will prove useful too. We strongly advise to leave at home non-essential electronics, excess clothing etc.
If you are allergic to pollen or similar, please bring sufficient quantity of your relevant medication as well as any prescription medication you happen to follow. If you have any food allergies please inform us in advance.
Euros, preferably in cash are useful as it is the areas’ official currency.
Travel insurance
Each participant is responsible for arranging sufficient and comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of the workshop. It is best to purchase it within 24 hours of enrollment for the workshop. The insurance plan besides protecting yourself against unforeseen circumstances that might prevent your attendance must also include accident, medical and personal cover, repatriation and also full cover for your personal belongings, since these are not covered by the organizer who in any case is not liable for any costs or damages. The organizer is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies or reimbursement of airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation. He is also not liable for any costs or damages to people
or property caused by sovereign acts of any government, acts of nature or by third parties.
Trip planning
How to reach the Periplus Workshops location
Periplus Workshops 2025 in Arcadia, is located in Dimitsana village in central Peloponnese. The easiest and most convenient way to reach the Periplus Workshops location is by our shuttle bus from the Tripoli bus station (KTEL Tripolis). As a special case a taxi may be used as well.
MAP
Dimitsana is a historic village in the very heart of the Peloponnese, capital of the Gortynia district of the Prefecture of Arcadia. It has been characterized as a traditional settlement. Located approximately 50 kilometers west of Tripoli. Our base is the Dimitsana Cultural Center (postcode 22007), close to the central area of the village.
Our scheduled arrival and departure transportation
We organize a shuttle bus every workshop’s first day early afternoon, from the Tripoli bus station (KTEL Tripolis) to our location (approx 60 minutes). More details will be sent to participants in due time. The shuttle leaves back on workshop’s last day on midday and drops you off at the Tripoli bus station (KTEL Tripolis).
Travelling by airplane + public bus
You may fly to Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) and then go to Kifissos bus station (KTEL) to take the bus that goes to Tripoli*. The route is approx 2 hours 30 minutes and the cost per person is 17-20 euros.
*You may find more here https://ktelarkadias.gr/ buy your ticket here https://ktelbus.gr/ark/ticketweb/ or call the Tripolis bus station (KTEL Tripolis) at +30 2710222560 or send an email here ktelark@otenet.gr if you have any querries.
Once you have reached the Tripoli bus station (KTEL Tripolis), the safest choice would be our shuttle bus, from there directly to the Periplus Workshops location in Dimitsana. It is scheduled once on workshop’s initial day early afternoon. The exact time of the scheduled bus departure will be communicated in advance to all participants. The route is approx 60 minutes, and we strongly advise our participants to prefer it. The shuttle leaves back once on workshop’s last day on midday, and drops you off at the Tripoli bus station.
In case, though, you need to take a taxi from Tripoli to our location in Dimitsana, the route is approx 50 km or 60 minutes.
Travelling by airplane + private car/taxi
Following your arrival to Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), if needed, you may always book a taxi or rent a car. The distance from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) to the Periplus Workshops location in Dimitsana is approx 230 km or 2 hours 45 minutes.
In any case, we strongly urge you to choose the public bus itinerary mentioned previously and the Periplus shuttle bus from the KTEL bus station in Tripoli.